Can opener



April 22 1924-. 1391, 620

J.AA.J=E11RIE CAN OPENER Filed Dec. 15. 1921 I willsii [N'VE/VTOR 4 JflMfJ /Z PETE/E Patented Apr. 22, 1924.

JAMES A. rnrnrn, or nrrnnnerotrs, rariqnn'sorn.

can ornrrnn.

Application filed December 15, 1921. ser ialflo. 522,588.

To (ZZZ whom it mag concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES A. PETRIE, a citizen of the United States, resident of Minneapolis, county of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can Openers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a can opener which will lie close to the end of the can and be supported in such a way that it can not rock or slip out of position while in use.

A further object is to provide a can opener of strong, durable construction and one which can be easily for opening large or small cans.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a can, showing my invention applied thereto,

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view of the same,

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1.

In the drawing, the frame of the opener is preferably formed by bending a metal rod to provide side rails 2' and a connecting curved end portion 3. The rails are in parallel relation and are comparatively stiff and rigid and capable of withstanding considerable downward pressure thereon without bending. The ends of the rails are preferably held in parallel relation by suitable means, such as a cross bar at, and a tongue 5 secured at 6 to the cross bar and having ends fitting within notches 7 in the rails, the bar 4: having preferably holes therein through which the ends of the rails are inserted. This means of fastening the rails in parallel relation may, however, be modified in various ways.

At the opposite end of the rails at the point where they are joined together by the curved portion 3 I provide a steel pointed pin 8 that is adapted to be thrust through the top of the can preliminary to the operation of opening. This pin iscurved, as

shown, so that when it is thrust through the top of the can, the frame of the opener can be tilted down to a substantially horizontal position, resting upon the cover of the can.

and quickly adapted Upon; the rails 2 I provide a carriage or slide consisting of plates 9 arranged in parallelrelation and connected by suitable means, such as cross bars 10, which hold the plates in their proper relative position while allowing them to move freely back and forth on the rails. I have shown ashaft 11 mounted in these plates and'on this shaft, I arrange a cutting wheel 12 havinga thin edge which projects below the slide and is adapted to engage and cut the cover.

To hold theframe from premature movement on the rails I prefer to provide a second wheel 13, shown in the drawing as integral with the wheel 12, the two forming a spool, but in practice I may prefer to make this wheel 13 independently of the wheel 12. The wheel 13 is of smaller diameter preferably than the wheel 12, there being an annular gap between them to re ceive the edge ofthe can, and while the wheel 12 is cutting the cover, the other 7 wheeldepends on the outside of the can and in caseof slippage of the slide on the rails, would contact with-the can. Generally, however, the rails will rest on the edge of the can and slide thereon as the tool is used, while the hub of the wheels will be spaced from the edge of the can. The bearing of the rails in the front and rear of the wheels the hand and aids materially in using the device. r I am aware that can openers of somewhat similar type have been known heretofore. I do not, therefore, claim'broadly the idea of the I pin thrust through the top of the can and the cutting wheel riding on thesurfaceof the cover, my invention consisting primarily in the rigid side rails whereprevents the tool from tilting or turning in a on the wheel slide or support is mounted, and

the guide for the cutting wheel.

I claim as my invention: I

1. A can opener comprising a rod bent to form parallel side rails and a curved connecting portion between them at one end adapted to overhang the top of the can, a i

pin mounted in said curved connecting portion for insertion through the top of the can, a slide carriage mounted on said rails to move freely back and forth'thereon, said slide comprising parallel plates having holes therein to loosely receive said rails,'crossbars connecting said plates, a spool centrally mounted in said carriage and having a cutting wheel at one end to engage the surface V of the cover, and a guiding Wheel at its other end to depend outside the Walls of the can, the middle portion of said Wheel being adapted to ride on the peripheral edge of the can, said rails when the opener is in use.

having a bearing on the edge of the can in front of and in the rear of said spool and between the plates of said carriage.

2. A can opener comprising a frame hav-' eeneeo fei-ent diameter, a spool mounted in said slide and having a cutting Wheel at one end to engage the top of'the can, and a guide Wheel at its other end to depend outside the walls of the can and said rails when the device is in use, riding on the edge of the can in front of and in the rear of said Wheel and between the Walls of said carriage and preventing the implement from rocking or twisting under pressure on the cutting wheel.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of December, 1921.

- JAMES A. PETRIE. 

